New Zealand Family Self Drive Holiday Itinerary

Haere Mai Welcome to the 'City of Sails' Auckland. 

Relax, you are officially on holiday! We have arranged for you to be met and transferred to your accommodation on arrival. Once settled, visit the iconic Sky Tower, New Zealand’s tallest structure and take in breathtaking 360° views of the city, harbour and surrounding landscapes from the observation platform. Afterwards, explore the beautiful 'City of Sails' with your family at your own pace. In the evening, we suggest heading down to the Viaduct Harbour for dinner and picturesque waterfront views.

Accommodation: Auckland - 2 Nights

Spend an immersive day in Auckland, blending creativity, culture, and sporting legend. Begin at Wētā Workshop Unleashed, stepping behind the scenes of world-class filmmaking through interactive sets, props, and special effects. In the afternoon, experience the All Blacks Guided Experience, gaining exclusive insight into New Zealand’s iconic rugby team. From cinematic storytelling to sporting excellence, this day offers a deeper connection to Aotearoa’s innovation, passion, and cultural pride.

Approximate Distance: 175 kms | 109 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins

​Accommodation Coromandel - 2 Nights

We are going to continue the same theme today - Relax!

Head to the beautiful Hot Water Beach, you will find hot water bubbling through the golden sand. Families, kids and couples can be seen digging their own spa pool in the sand and relaxing in the natural hot springs - this is one experience that should be on your New Zealand bucket list and a truly unique Kiwi experience, perfect for a New Zealand Family Adventure Holiday.

Rotorua is awesome for kids and being the Geothermal and Maori cultural center of New Zealand, Rotorua offers some really unique experiences. When you think about it, its obvious why early Maori settlers were attracted here, imagine living in a world without power and stumbling across an endless supply of boiling water making the usually laborious tasks of cooking, bathing and heating very easy - no effort required. The area quickly became a significant Maori stronghold and remains so today.

Approximate Distance: 215 kms | 133 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours

​Accommodation: Rotorua - 3 Nights

Today’s itinerary blends elevated forest adventure with immersive wildlife conservation. Start at the Redwoods Treewalk in Rotorua’s majestic Redwood Forest, where you’ll stroll across a series of suspension bridges and platforms high among towering 120-year-old trees, enjoying a unique bird’s-eye nature experience that’s engaging for all ages. 

In the afternoon, head to The National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa to go behind the scenes at the world’s leading kiwi conservation facility. Learn from expert keepers about kiwi biology and conservation, explore nocturnal displays, and, if you’re lucky, witness eggs being incubated or chicks being cared for.

Just south of Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapu is a vibrant geothermal wonderland that delights both kids and adults. Its name means “Sacred Water,” and the colourful hot pools—turquoise, green, gold, and yellow—are caused by natural mineral salts. Explore bubbling mud pools, volcanic craters, and the famous Champagne Pool, and don’t miss the daily eruption of Lady Knox Geyser. In the afternoon, enjoy the entertaining Agrodome Farm Show and tour, where you can meet sheep, watch sheep-shearing demonstrations, and learn about life on a New Zealand farm, creating a fun-filled, family-friendly day.

Today you’ll return your rental car at Rotorua Airport and fly to Christchurch, where you’ll pick up your next vehicle and begin exploring the South Island’s vibrant Garden City. Start with a ride on heritage trams through central Christchurch, a beloved attraction featuring beautifully restored vintage tramcars and live commentary from friendly drivers. 

Glide past highlights like Cathedral Junction, the Avon River, and New Regent Street’s Spanish‑mission architecture, with hop‑on hop‑off access to shops, cafés, gardens, and cultural sights.

Accommodation: Christchurch - 2 Nights

A short drive from Christchurch brings you to the charming port town of Lyttelton, full of boutiques and local treats. From here, take a mid-morning ferry to Quail Island, an uninhabited haven perfect for exploring at your own pace. Discover shipwrecks, a former leper colony, and historic quarantine buildings, swim and build sandcastles on sandy beaches, and spot native wildlife including white-flippered penguins. 

Finish the day at the Margaret Mahy Playground, New Zealand’s largest, celebrating the country’s beloved children’s author with endless fun for kids of all ages.

Approximate Distance: 15 kms | 9 miles Total Driving Time: 30 mins (each way)

A visit to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in Mackenzie Country places you within UNESCO’s Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage region. Dominated by Aoraki / Mount Cook (3,724m), Australasia’s highest peak, the park spans the dramatic Southern Alps, with more than 150 summits, vast glaciers, snowfields, and alpine lakes. Your day includes the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, celebrating mountaineering history and the legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary. Enjoy the indoor planetarium show at The Hermitage Hotel Mount Cook, exploring the region’s skies and its place in the universe and heritage landscapes.

Approximate Distance: 330 kms | 205 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins

​Accommodation: Mount Cook Village - 1 Night

Wanaka is a scenic resort town on the southern shore of Lake Wanaka, framed by the Southern Alps and serving as a gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park’s dramatic wilderness. Its crystal‑clear lake reflects snow‑capped peaks and offers year‑round outdoor adventures, from hiking and water sports to world‑class skiing nearby. The lively township blends stylish shops, cafes, excellent restaurants and comfortable accommodations, making it perfect for both relaxation and exploration. Family fun includes quirky attractions like Puzzling World with its maze and optical illusions.

Approximate Distance: 275 kms | 171 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 45 mins

​Accommodation Queenstown - 3 Nights

Full Steam Ahead
All aboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw this old coal-fired beauty has been ferrying passengers around the lake for over a 100 years. Kids find the experience fascinating and love watching the stokers at work in the engine room and seeing the glowing fireboxes.

On arrival at Walter Peak High Country Farm on the western shores of Lake Wakatipu, you will get a real taste for rural New Zealand. Kids can pet and feed the lambs (during Spring - Oct to December) and other farmyard animals, watch the sheepdog's round-up a flock of sheep and see a shearing demonstration. The high country air works up a healthy appetite, so the trip includes morning or afternoon tea with fresh scones with jam.

The Skyline Queenstown Gondola lifts you 450 meters above the town, revealing nearly 360-degree views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cecil and Walter Peaks, and the stunning Lake Wakatipu. At the top, enjoy family fun on the Skyline Luge, with two 800-meter tracks through trees. Take the scenic track for a relaxed ride or the advanced track for banked corners, tunnels, bends, and dips. Adults control speed and direction while kids ride safely in front, creating a thrilling and unforgettable alpine experience for all ages.

Haere rā and Bon Voyage!

Sadly, Your New Zealand Family Adventure Holiday is at an end, drop your vehicle at Queenstown airport and catch your onward flight. Have a good homeward journey, farewell and know your family leaves with many happy memories from your New Zealand self-drive adventure.

Ready to find out more? Talk to us here in New Zealand about the 'New Zealand Family Adventure Holiday'  - We Guarantee it will be the Holiday of a Lifetime!